Chromatica
Perched on the upper level of a contemporary residential building in Elizabeth Bay, Chromatica is a light-filled three-bedroom apartment that peers out towards Sydney Harbour through a leafy canopy.
Purchased off the plan, the home offered its owners a blank slate, one they were keen to personalise into a refined yet inviting retreat. The result is an interior that balances intimacy with elegance, drawing inspiration from the suburb’s storied Art Deco legacy through a rich material palette and finely tuned detailing.
In the compact living area, surface treatment becomes a tool for spatial expansion. Walls and ceilings are enveloped in softly tinted Marmorino plaster, replacing stark white with a pale terracotta hue that lends depth and warmth. As daylight shifts across the north-facing, semi-enclosed balcony, the plastered surfaces respond in kind, appearing almond-toned through the day before settling into a gentle coral glow by evening. Broadly woven linen curtains in an oatmeal shade soften the edges between inside and out, reinforcing the apartment’s connection to its verdant surrounds.
This sun-washed envelope sets the stage for deeper, more saturated furnishings that counterbalance the kitchen’s darker tones. Emerald, sapphire, ruby and amethyst hues are introduced through large, sculptural furniture pieces – chosen not only for their colour but for their generous proportions and curved profiles, which enhance comfort while maintaining a sense of openness. Tactility is key: a velveteen Edra sofa anchors the living space, while a custom chenille banquette runs the length of the dining wall, doubling as informal seating and a favourite perch for the now empty-nest owners, who gravitate here for its leafy outlook.
Occupying half the banquette’s length is a bespoke elliptical dining table crafted from American white oak, its light timber form punctuated by two lacquered cobalt-blue legs. Fully upholstered dining chairs cluster along one side, prioritising comfort, while the adjacent balcony is equipped with an extendable table designed to host up to 10 guests, making entertaining seamless across zones.
The primary bedroom adopts a quieter register. Bedside tables carved from caramel-toned poplar burl take the form of pared-back Art Deco cubes, while the upholstered bedhead features a patchwork of kantha-embroidered Ikat textiles in lilac and terracotta pink. These motifs subtly reappear throughout the apartment, with bolder silk Ikat accents dotted across the dining banquette to visually link the spaces.
In the lounge, an oversized wool-and-silk rug grounds the seating area, its lustrous threads recalling the gilded surfaces of Gustav Klimt’s paintings. A custom, pebble-shaped ottoman tucks neatly beneath a limestone and walnut coffee table, ready to be pulled out when family or guests visit. Storage is resolved through restraint rather than bulk: instead of tall cabinetry, two streamlined joinery pieces – a low credenza with bookshelf and an open bar near the kitchen – combine Art Deco references with contemporary execution. Verde Antigua marble benchtops sit alongside walnut burl bracing and burnt sienna polyurethane fronts that catch and reflect light across their glossy surfaces. Floating burl shelves backed with bronzed mirror further amplify the room’s depth, softly echoing the rug’s metallic tones.
Lighting is treated with similar delicacy. Eschewing ceiling-mounted fixtures, a constellation of lamps and wall sconces animates the apartment after dark, creating the illusion of heightened ceilings. Above the dining banquette, moon-like sconces wash the Marmorino walls in light, revealing their texture and tonal variation as the day fades, bringing Chromatica to life in an entirely different register by night.
Architecture by PBD Architects. Interior design by Mim Design. Interior decoration and styling by Arent&Pyke. Build by Ceerose. Landscape design by TaylorBrammer. Artwork by Mark Maurangi Carro and Oscar Nimmo.
